SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO SEND GAME INVITATIONS

• US 20140323226A1
• Filed: 04/24/2014
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Agrawal, Abhinav
• Application Number:
  US14/260,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20140323226A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat

Abstract

A system, a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a method to send a telephonic message is provided. A request may be received from a first mobile device operated by a first player of a computer-implemented multiplayer game. The request may include a reference to each of a plurality of second mobile devices. The plurality of second mobile devices may be identified based on the reference. A telephonic message may be generated that includes a trigger executable by each of the plurality of second mobile devices to begin an instance of the computer-implemented multiplayer game with the first mobile device. The generated telephonic message may be sent to each of the plurality of second mobile devices via an out-of-game telephonic channel.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request from a first mobile device operated by a first player of a computer-implemented multiplayer game, the request including a reference to each of a plurality of second mobile devices;

identifying the plurality of second mobile devices based on the reference to each of the plurality of second mobile devices;

generating a telephonic message that includes a trigger executable by each of the plurality second mobile devices to begin an instance of the computer-implemented multiplayer game with the first mobile device operated by the first player, the generating being performed using a processor of a machine; and

sending the generated telephonic message to each of the plurality of second mobile devices via an out-of-game telephonic channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephonic message is a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephonic message includes graphics related to the computer-implemented multiplayer game and a description of the computer-implemented multiplayer game.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference to each of the plurality of second mobile devices includes a list of contacts corresponding to the plurality of second mobile devices, and wherein the list of contacts corresponding to the plurality of second mobile devices is stored on the first mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a further request from a second mobile device among the plurality of second mobile devices, the further request being a request to retrieve game data associated with the computer-implemented multiplayer game; and

communicating the game data associated with the computer-implemented multiplayer game to the second mobile device in response to the further request.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the trigger is further executable by the second mobile device among the plurality of second mobile devices to send the further request to retrieve the game data associated with the computer-implemented multiplayer game.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

detecting compatibility of the second mobile device with the game data, and wherein the communicating the game data associated with the computer-implemented multiplayer game is based on the compatibility of the second mobile device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the detecting the compatibility of the second mobile device includes:

identifying an operating system installed on the second mobile device; and

determining that the game data is executable by the operating system installed on the second mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving the request from the first mobile device, presenting to the first mobile device a game user interface of the computer-implemented multiplayer game that includes a control operable to send the request from the first mobile device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the presenting the game user interface includes displaying a game incentive that is credited to an account of the first player upon operation of the control included in the game user interface.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the game incentive includes at least one of elevating a status of the player in the computer-implemented multiplayer-game, granting the player more virtual currency for the computer-implemented multiplayer game, or increasing an amount of points earned by the player for the computer-implemented multiplayer game.

12. A system comprising:

a reception module configured to receive a request from a first mobile device operated by a first player of a computer-implemented multiplayer game, the request including a reference to each of a plurality of second mobile devices;

an identification module configured to identify the plurality of second mobile devices based on the reference to each of the plurality of second mobile devices;

a processor implemented generation module configured to generate a telephonic message that includes a trigger executable by each of the plurality second mobile devices to begin an instance of the computer-implemented multiplayer game with the first mobile device operated by the first player; and

a communication module configured to send the generated telephonic message to each of the plurality of second mobile devices via an out-of-game telephonic channel.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the telephonic message is a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the reference to each of the plurality of second mobile devices includes a list of contacts corresponding to the plurality of second mobile devices, and wherein the list of contacts corresponding to the plurality of second mobile devices is stored on the first mobile device.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the reception module is further configured to receive a further request from a second mobile device among the plurality of second mobile devices, the further request being a request to retrieve game data associated with the computer-implemented multiplayer game;

and wherein the communication module is further configured to communicate the game data associated with the computer-implemented multiplayer game to the second mobile device in response to the further request.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the trigger is further executable by the second mobile device among the plurality of second mobile devices to send the further request to retrieve the game data associated with the computer-implemented multiplayer game.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a detection module configured to detect compatibility of the second mobile device with the game data, and wherein the communication module is further configured to communicate the game data associated with the computer-implemented multiplayer game based on the compatibility of the second mobile device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the detection module is further configured to:

identify an operating system installed on the second mobile device; and

determine that the game data is executable by the operating system installed on the second mobile device.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the communication module is further configured to present, prior to the reception module receiving the request from the first mobile device, to the first mobile device a game user interface of the computer-implemented multiplayer game that includes a control operable to send the request from the first mobile device.

20. A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request from a first mobile device operated by a first player of a computer-implemented multiplayer game, the request including a reference to each of a plurality of second mobile devices;

identifying the plurality of second mobile devices based on the reference to each of the plurality of second mobile devices;

generating a telephonic message that includes a trigger executable by each of the plurality second mobile devices to begin an instance of the computer-implemented multiplayer game with the first mobile device operated by the first player; and

sending the generated telephonic message to each of the plurality of second mobile devices via an out-of-game telephonic channel.